Why there is still a future in Bluetooth Proximity Marketing into 2012

"Nobody has their Bluetooth switched on!"; "My Bluetooth is only visible for a few seconds";"Bluetooth doesn't work on the iPhone"; "The range sucks"; "Nobody ever responds to a voucher!"... "Bluetooth Marketing just doesn't work.".

These are all comments I have heard about Bluetooth Proximity Marketing, but they are all wrong! I have witnessed a huge growth in success, adoption and proliferation of this technology through 2011. The problem is false expectations are dying and only the credible use of Bluetooth Marketing remains.

So why is Bluetooth Marketing not a dying technology but actually just ready for its major revival, here are four reasons:

Firstly lets address range, traditionally Bluetooth transmitters in phones are class two and the Bluetooth spec for class two phones is 10m range, now traditionally if you coupled these with a class 1 Bluetooth broadcaster you could effectively extend the range of these devices to 30m tops. However advances in integration on chips with Digital signal processing (DSP) chips and noise cancellation technology a new generation of Long Range Bluetooth Marketing solutions have come to market, with the leader being the AX range from market leader www.huetouch.com. The Ax range from Huetouch can send messages to phones up to 100m away from the device, thus increasing range and effectiveness. There is little doubt that Huetouch software with this hardware platform has created the longest range Bluetooth Marketing devices on the market in my opinion.

Secondly on demand Bluetooth Marketing is removing the gorilla-marketing of Bluetooth and through the use of kiosks and triggers and Low Energy Bluetooth proximity transmitters,changes the way people interact with Bluetooth Marketing as users can simply request the message to be pushed to them from an information kiosk giving an on demand experience, Bluetooth Marketing pioneer Huetouch first launches their HT-2000 trigger at ADTECH show in London in 2007. On demand causes greater cultural acceptance of the technology and removes fears brands have of spam.

Thirdly Phone numbers and Bluetooth adoption is increasing quarter on quarter, there is still no other wireless technology that is as effective as Bluetooth for multi device connections, quick paring and data transfer. Even though Apple did not implement the OBEX OPP in their Bluetooth implementation they still could not release a phone that did not have Bluetooth. Yes Bluetooth is the connection technology of choice and there is not one SmartPhone or modern handset that does not include it. As OPP and OBEX (the technology used in Bluetooth Marketing) are part of the Bluetooth ratified standard then Bluetooth Marketing is set to stay for some time yet. More phone sales means more Bluetooth devices for a full range see www.bluetooth.org for a range of devices.

Fourthly NFC and Bluetooth, NFC (Near Field Communications) is a short range wireless technology that delivers small amounts of data too handsets quickly, the Phone must have an NFC chip or NFC SIM. This technology is part of the google wallet strategy and Visa and Mastercard are both backing NFC as a means of payments on mobile phones. However Huetouch now have NFC triggering for Bluetooth or WIFI Marketing, this means that you can tap a poster or a beermat that is NFC enabled, and be automatically connected to a WIFI network for internet access or download content from a Huetouch Bluetooth server. Imagine bars could offer free internet access if you tap their promotions or cinemas can stream HD video to your phone when you tap a movie trailer.

The reality is that as phone sales increase and more and more of our electronic devices use Bluetooth as the primary means of connection, that Bluetooth Proximity Marketing along with WIFI proximity Marketing are going to continue to grow year one year, we have crossed the chasm and Bluetooth is hear to stay!